Changing with the seasons

Hi,

My name is Louise I have four dogs of different breeds, German Shepherd bitch 10 years, Patterdale male 8 years, mini Jack Russell bitch 3 years, Parsons Jack Russell bitch 2.5 years.

I run a boarding kennels, and over Christmas had the Parsons Jack Russell in for boarding. On the owners' return they told me they were going to just take her to a rehoming centre. They had got her from some sort of puppy farm, where she was kept in a stable, for the son who had left school and wasn't going out. They thought they would their son a dog to give him something to do and get him out of the house. That was fine until he started college and got a girlfriend; he then wasn't bothered with the dog, who suffers from separation anxiety, so once everyone was out she was barking non-stop and weeing and pooing everywhere so they decided to get rid.

When she was in my kennels she was a nervous, under-nourished, under-fed dog of under 6 kilos. I agreed to find her a home as I knew she would be hard to place in a rescue centre and would be in danger of being destroyed as people do not understand the time and commitment of separation anxiety.

She wasn't coping with the kennel life and was self-harming, so my partner and I decided as I had been socialising her with my three dogs at work she could come home as a foster dog. Well, she fitted in like she had always been there! The two Jack Russells cuddled up like cats, all of them best of friends.

Once she had been fed properly, nourished and put on some weight, she came into season. The owner said she had been spayed but we had our reservations, and we now know she had not been spayed. Well, it's like a switch had been flicked. She has turned into a monster to the other Jack Russell she was such good friends with before. She has now been in season seven weeks, and we have taken precautions to keep them separated with cages for the short time I have to do things. Then, when she is out, I keep her on a lead and muzzled, as at sight of my other Jack Russell she is going for the kill - she would rip her apart if she got hold of her. She did attack the other one twice when she first came into season.

The vet has now said we should spay her early this Friday 3rd May, but I have been reading up so much on this, and in the book I read it is best to avoid spaying bitches for two months after estrus. It says spaying during this time can result in a precipitous drop in progesterone levels with possible accompanying emotional disturbances, irritability aggression and depression. So I am now concerned as to whether this is going so solve the problem, or as to whether we will have to let her go, as this is not an option we want to do we really want to give her every chance as before this happened she was the most loving beautiful soft girl to all.

Hope you can help I'm at my wits end, with what is the best decision.

Yours,

Louise Bramhall, by email


Karen Wild, behaviourist, advises...

Hi Louise, 

Whilst this is a veterinary question, from a behavioural point of view there is concern that to spay a dog during this period may prolong the problem. Each case must be looked at individually and perhaps there are temporary measures that can help whilst things are settling down. I would recommend asking for referral to a Veterinary Behaviourist without delay, who specializes in these problems. Please either email me on info@karenwild.co.uk or contact the APBC ( www.apbc.org.uk ) for someone in your area.

Running a tight chip

Hi DT team!

I’m a dog groomer and customers have been asking me for some time if I offer a microchipping service. Now it’s due to become compulsory in Wales in 2015, I was wondering how I can go about training to become a chipper? Are there any qualifications I need to take?

Thanks,

Michelle Baines, by email

Caring career

Hello,

I have been in contact before, I am looking for a career in the dog world. I am a qualified dog groomer but I am looking into another careers with dogs. I am very passionate about them and have a lot of interest in issues around them such as BSL and their welfare.

I am looking to become a campaigns assistant or help support charities or groups to help dogs have better lives and education people into responsible dog ownership.

I have applied for jobs with leading animal charity but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. I was wondering weather there was smaller charities or groups I could get in contact with to help me find a career or advice to work towards this.

In a nutshell:
I have over a years admin and customer service/reception experience.
3 years experience as a kennel hand.
2 years experience as a dog groomer.
I spend a lot of my spare time on dog blogs and at dog shows.

I am so keen to find a job I care so passionately about and a job where I can really make a difference to dogs lives and their owners.

Kind regards,

Katie Page, via Facebook

New addition

Dear Dogs Today,

I’m emailing for advice as my husband and I have recently discovered we’re going to have a baby! This is our first baby and we’ve got two Border Terriers and would like some advice on how to prepare them for our new arrival.

This will be a new experience for us all so I’d like the best advice possible.

Thank you.

Natalie Kirby, by email

Expert advice

Trish Mahon, Family Paws Parent Education, advises…

Natalie it is terrific that you are getting prepared early on for the introduction of your baby into a two-dog household. You are at what Family Paws Parent Education calls our ‘Dogs and Storks’ stage. Early preparation will save you lots of stress in the later stages when you are perhaps tired with the demands of new motherhood. You have a lively breed in Border Terriers and this can be a good time to fine tune household manners.

Newly expectant parents often find themselves overwhelmed with well-meaning advice and you will find well-researched advice on our website www.familypaws.com including many videos and discussions and free downloads.  Before baby’s arrival is a good time to look at your dog’s behaviour and the possible impact that will have once the baby arrives. It’s a good idea to sit down and write a list of any issues you have now with the dogs. Writing it down may help to see something that jumps out at you as being a cause for concern, for example resource guarding of food or toys etc. How do the dogs seek attention?  How will that behaviour affect you when you are holding a baby in your arms?

This stage can be a great opportunity to teach your dogs a ‘relax on a mat’ routine if you have not already done so. Also thinking ahead you could teach and enjoy some games with the dogs that buy you time like stuffed Kong toys or treat dispensing toys. Naming your dog’s toys and having play sessions around ‘leave it’ and self-control exercises will help when you have a toddler on the floor down the line.

We always say you should never allow your dog’s free access to baby.

Learning to understand canine body language and the indications of stress in a dog will be one of the most rewarding and helpful lessons you can learn. Start looking at your dogs now and understand how they react to daily life. Put together a plan that includes the dogs in family life as excluding the dogs will result in more stress and less adaptability for your dog in learning to live with a baby. I also like to look at issues with smaller breeds such as teaching your dog to walk down the stairs ahead of you. Carrying a baby and wondering where your dogs are is stressful, so teach your dogs what you want to see them do to ensure you can move about safely.

Have a look at where the dogs sleep and how you will set up baby equipment. Try to keep the dogs’ routines going as much as possible and introduce them to items of baby equipment such as the buggy early on. Some dogs react to the sudden movements of quick release mechanism on buggies so practise all of this calmly and reward the dogs for good, calm behaviours.

If you have not crate trained your dogs, think ahead about how you will deal with times that you need the dogs in one place while you attend to the baby. Introduced in a positive way crates and gates are what we call ‘success stations’. This equipment can give you space and time and you will be sure your dogs are safe and provided for with a well stuffed Kong or similar while you get on with things.

Looking ahead to getting out and about with a buggy and two dogs, consider how your dogs act now. Are they happy to meet people/other dogs?  Sometimes the buggy and dogs will not work together and if so work out a plan so that the dogs get their required exercise. If your dogs are ok with it this can be the time to take up that offer of help from family and ask them to walk the dogs.

On your first day home with your baby don’t rush to introduce the dogs. This does not need to happen on that day and is best handled when you are calm. Believe me; your dogs are more interested in a pizza delivery than anything else. You do not need to do any dog and baby greeting until you are ready, and remember the dogs should never have free access to the baby. Once your baby arrives practise awake, adult supervision of dogs and baby at all times.

If either of the dogs’ current behaviours cause you concern consult an approved trainer or behaviourist for some help. Enjoy your bonding time with your baby and best of luck with these exciting times ahead.

www.familypaws.com, www.dogsandstorks.com

Tamsin Durston, Blue Cross Nurse Manager and dog behaviour advisor says…

Blue Cross has lots of advice to help you ease your dogs into the changes ahead. It can often be quite stressful and confusing for dogs when a new baby suddenly arrives. It is a good idea to start preparing them as soon as you can so that they take the new arrival in their stride.

Calmly introducing your dogs to some of the sights and smells associated with a baby can help them adjust to some of the changes in the home before the time comes. For example, having strong smelling baby shampoos around objects like the cot and Moses basket in place before your baby is using them.

Practice taking your dogs out for a walk next to a pushchair, if they pull on their lead they may need some further training. You may also find that you have less time for walks when the baby comes or towards the end of your pregnancy, so see if friends and relatives can help walk your dog to make sure they still gets the exercise and mental stimulation they need.

Start getting your dogs used to being apart from you in the home. They may need to be when the baby arrives, for when you have visitors or when you want to feed your baby. Get them used to this now by popping them in a room behind a stair gate with a tasty treat for short periods, gradually increase the time until it becomes part of their usual routine.

Don't forget that is important that babies and children must always be supervised around dogs and never left alone with them for any amount of time.

We hope our advice helps and best of luck with your new arrival

We have lots more advice and tips online at www.bluecross.org.uk/dogandbaby

Pollen gets in your eyes, and up your nose

Hello to the team at Dogs Today.

I’m hoping you can help. I know this is a forum for doggie advice, but I’m hoping you can help a human! Spring’s been a bit later this year, and I’m just feeling my hayfever beginning to start. It’s at its worst at my favourite time of day – the afternoon dog walk. Anti-histamines do give me headaches, so I was wondering if you know of anything natural I can take or use to keep me from getting concerned looks from other dog walkers as I look like I’ve been crying with my streaming eyes and nose!

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Kind regards,

Mrs Ashton, by email

Where to go in Padstow?

Hi Bev,

We’re off to Padstow in Cornwall shortly. Do you know which nearby beaches are dog-friendly in May? Any other tips fro dog-friendly places to go in Cornwall generally?
Mike Ward, by email

How do I train my hard of hearing pup?

Hi,

my 16-week-old Border Collie pup Mabel is partially deaf, my vet is referring her for a hearing test so we know how much hearing she has.

I am using lots of hand signals in her training, I wondered if any body had any experience and tips on training a hard of hearing pup.

Thanks,

Debbie Broadway, via Facebook